Mailing-tube.



PATENTED NOV. 20

nopssmoo.

' 0. R. McGABE.

MAILING TUBE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC 30. 1906.

l/vi 1 14 eons THE NdRRls PETERS 00., wAsl-uuormv, 17, c4

' tube, as shown in Fig. 1.

UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE.

CHARLES R. McCABE, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

MAILING-TU BE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 20, 1906.

Application filed December 30, 1905. Serial No. 293,945.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES R. lVlCC/ABE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsvlvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mailing- For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for effecting the result reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating my improved mailing or shipping tube in its initial condition preparatory to receiving its contents. Fig. 2 is a transverse section thereof. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing the tube subsequent to the reception of its contents. Fig. 4 is a de tail perspective view of a portion only of the tube, illustrating a modification.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawin s by the same reference characters.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates my improved mailing or shipping tube, which is preferably formed of cardboard or the like and is of cylindrical shape, as shown. The tube 1 is provided on its interior with one or more strips 2. The strips 2 have one end secured to the interior of the tube, preferably at or near one end of the latter, and their other ends are initially free and project out of or through the other end of the The strips 2 are designed to be of any material that is sufficiently pliable to be easily bent and yet stiff enough to sustain the shape to which it is flexed. Preferably they are flat, as shown, although they may be round or any other shape. The strips 2 may be secured at one of their ends to the tube by means of brads or rivets 3, or they may be, as shown in Fig. 4, welded or otherwise attached to small rings 4, and thus secured to the inner side of the tube. They may be formed in one piece with the rivets or rings by which they are fastened, and it is within the purview of my invention to attach them at one end of the tube in any desired manner.

As before stated, the strips 2 are initially free from the tube at one end, and in the particular application of the device for use a scroll or the like tubular article is inserted over the strips and into the tube 1, as shown in the drawings, and then the free ends of the strips are bent outwardly over the adjacent edge of the tube 1 and are, as before intimated, sufliciently stiff to sustain themselves in place independent of other fastening means. At the same time it is obvious that the said free ends after having been bent around the edge of the tube and returned along the outer wall ofthe latter for a short distance only may be secured to the tube by a cord or any desired fastening means wrapped transversely around such ends and the tube. Preferably, for the purpose of imparting rigidity to the strips 2 I employ a band 5, which may be placed at any point along their length. In the present instance the said band is shown at about the center of the tube or about midway of the length of the strips. This arrangement of the said band permits of a maximum of flexibility or pliancy with respect to the strips, while at the same time imparts suflicient rigidity to the structure. It is to be understood that the band 5 may be adjusted lengthwise upon the strips, so as to assume any desired position along the same.

From the foregoing description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that I have provided an improved construction of mailing or shipping tube particularly designed for tubular articles, in which there is embodied one or more binding-strips on the interior of the tube, the said strips being initially free from the tube at one end, so that the tubular article may be inserted over the strip or strips and between the same and the inner wall of the tube and then be secured in place against longitudinal displacement within the tube by fastening the initially-free end of the strip or strips to the adjacent end of the tube, preferably by merely bending the said end around the edge of the tube, as shown in the drawings.

It is to be understood that any desired number of these strips may be employed and that one is sufficient to secure the advantageous results of my invention, although I prefer to use two or a greater number spaced at equal distances around the inner Wall of the tube 1.

It is also to be understood that while I have described the strips as being pliable this word is used primarily in the sense that the strips may be readily bent and yet are sufficiently stiff to be self-sustaining and remain in the positions or shapes to which they are bent independent of other fastening means.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. As an improved article of manufacture,

, the herein-described mailing-tube, provided ing of a material that is susceptible of bending and that will remain in the position to which it is bent, and the initially-free end of the strip being adapted to be turned outwardly and clenched around the adjacent edge of the tube, substantially as described.

2. A tube of the character described, pro vided on its interior With a plurality of spacing-strips secured thereto at one end only and designed to receive thereon, and in the tube, a tubular article, means for fastening the free ends of said strips to the tube, and a band held in engagement with said strips.

3. A tube of the character described, provided on its interior with a plurality of spacing-strips secured thereto at one end only and designed to receive thereon and in the.

tube, a tubular article, means for fastening the free ends of said strips to the tube, and a band held in frictional engagement with said strips and adjustable lengthwise of the same.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses,

CHARLES R. MOCABE. 

